The Del Mar Highlands Town Center, a major shopping center in Carmel Valley, donated the bikes, valued at about $1,000 each. Before then, the division was the only one in the city that did not have bicycles.

The bikes will be used to better patrol high-traffic areas such as shopping centers, parking lots and special events on an as-needed basis, said San Diego police Capt. Miguel Rosario. Several officers are already trained on how to patrol on the bikes.

Police said the bicycles make it easier to sneak up on suspects and allow officers to go where vehicles can’t.

“People just don’t expect cops to come riding up on bicycles,” Rosario said.